13 of the world's weirdest drinking laws you'll avoid breaking in Dry January

TO the 16,000-plus people who have pledged to stay off the booze during Dry January, we salute you.

Not only are you losing weight, feeling healthier, saving money and raising funds for Alcohol Concern, you’re also making your life much simpler and safer for the next 24 days.

For instance, you’re avoiding the pitfalls of texting an ex while drunk, losing a shoe on a night out (see the video below), blabbing secrets to friends after a few too many shandies, falling up stairs (video below again) or making a fool of yourself in a variety of other ways.

Also, by steering clear of alcohol, you’re doing a great job of making sure you don’t fall foul of any drinking laws, such as this collection of bizarre rules* from around the world:

It may seem an oddity of law in this country, but it’s illegal to be drunk on licensed premises such as in a pub.

In Scotland it’s against the law to be in possession of a cow while drunk.

By Swiss law you are allowed to consume absinth, but it is illegal to produce, store, sell and trade it.

Further afield, there are unsurprisingly some very strange drinking laws in America – particularly in Texas, where you not allowed to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.

Texas has banned the entire Encyclopedia Britannica because it contains a recipe for making beer at home.

Get your head around this one - beer may not be bought after midnight on Sunday, but can be purchased anytime on Monday in Houston, Texas (gotta love those Texans and their odd ways).

It’s against the law to get a fish drunk in Ohio.

You can get five years in jail in Kentucky just for sending a bottle of booze as a gift.

Meanwhile, in Missouri anyone under the age of 21 who takes out household rubbish containing empty liquor containers can be charged with illegally possessing alcohol.

Drink-drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad in San Salvador.

In Maharashtra, India, you reportedly need to have a drinking permit.

If you’re not getting drunk during January you’re unlikely to run away and become a sailor. Therefore, you probably won’t need to know that Royal Navy ships entering the Port of London are supposed to provide a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London.

The Scots apparently have a drink-related law which frowns upon anyone who wimps out of going commando under his kilt. Any Scotsman found to be wearing underwear beneath his kilt can be fined two cans of beer.

*We can’t guarantee all of these are definitely still laws, but they are all drinking-related. Enjoy anyway.

Have you encountered any weird drinking laws on your travels before? What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you while you’ve been drunk? Are you trying to get through Dry January? If so, how’s it going? Add your comments below.

Comments (1)

Sounds a joint conspiracy of the legislatures and bureaucrats, however, they are appreciative. But people are people they can always find a way around to satiate their obsession; forgetting what may come later on. (Editor,Techvedic).

Sounds a joint conspiracy of the legislatures and bureaucrats, however, they are appreciative. But people are people they can always find a way around to satiate their obsession; forgetting what may come later on. (Editor,Techvedic).Techvedic